In this work, active screen plasma nitriding (AS_PN) of EN8, EN24, and EN41B low alloy steel was carried out to improve its surface properties. The process parameters of 500 °C temperature for 4 h with the gas flow in the ratio of H₂:N₂ = 1:1 were used for the treatment. The improvement in the surface was assessed by the microhardness as well as characterized by SEM and XRD. The microhardness measurements reveal an increase in surface hardness by more than 4, 3.4, and 2.7 times from the base material for EN41B, EN8, and EN24. The compound zone/layer ranges from 4.9 microns (μm) for EN8 to as high as 9.1 microns (μm) for EN41B after nitriding. On analyzing the nitride layer thickness through SEM, the results found from microhardness measurement were confirmed. The XRD results also approve the predominant development of γ'-Fe₄N and ɛ-Fe_2–3 N phases on the treated sample surface, although its compound layer surges with different nitride forming elements. Further, SEM analysis also reveals a white layer formation without transformed austenite (γ). Further, EDS analysis was also performed on the treated samples. Finally, a comparative corrosion study for AS_PN treated and bare (untreated) material samples were done to find the influence of the treatment.

在这项工作中，对EN8，EN24和EN41B低合金钢进行了有源筛分等离子体氮化（AS_PN），以改善其表面性能。H ₂：N ₂气体流量为500°C，温度为4 h的工艺参数 = 1：1用于治疗。用显微硬度评估表面的改善，并用SEM和XRD表征。显微硬度测量表明，表面硬度相对于EN41B，EN8和EN24的基材提高了4倍，3.4倍和2.7倍。氮化后，化合物区域/层的范围从EN8的4.9微米（μm）到EN41B的9.1微米（μm）高。通过SEM分析氮化物层厚度，证实了由显微硬度测量发现的结果。X射线衍射结果也赞同γ'-铁的主要发展₄ N和ɛ-铁_2-3 尽管其化合物层会随不同的氮化物形成元素而变化，但已处理样品表面上会出现N相。此外，SEM分析还揭示出白色层的形成而没有转变的奥氏体（γ）。此外，还对处理后的样品进行EDS分析。最后，针对AS_PN处理和裸露（未经处理）的材料样本进行了比较腐蚀研究，以发现处理的影响。